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Ron Weinstein, Director & Editor
September 1999
Volume 3, Issue 5
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
ADDo's & ADDon'ts
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ADDo’s
Listen
As with any person, knowing
they are being heard will help ease doubts and fears. Often, a person with
AD/HD will take responsibility for any misunderstandings. Help in sorting
out the problem will lend perspective and aid in resolution.
Paraphrase
A person with AD/HD will tend
to talk in circles and repeat themselves. By paraphrasing, you not only
force them to slow down, you remind them of what they've already said.
Believe them
AD/HD is an "invisible" disability
and aside from the fact that they're often fidgety, the only way you're
certain to know they have AD/HD is if they tell you. If you doubt
their word, you build a wall of mistrust between yourself and the other.
It's hard to do your best work when it feels like your judge is against
you from the start.
Ask about how a task is
Progressing
As has been stated, procrastination
is a part of life for an "ADHDer". They really don't realize that time
is running out! Say "show me what you've done so far," it will help
keep the person accountable, and will give you the chance to offer ways
of clarifying and organization along the way.
Flexibility
Try to give them some freedom
to be creative in their approach to tasks and be able to develop their
own path and timetable. Ask "How can this work for you?" and then help
them stick to their plan.
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ADDon’t
Don’t tell AD/HD kids
to "just pay attention"
Someone with AD/HD has a great
deal of difficulty filtering out unimportant noises - this is something
that comes naturally to most individuals, Don't assume that everyone has
the same abilities. Sounds and other activities happening at the same time
can really distract an AD/HD individual.
Don't give too long lists
of verbal instruction
Sequencing and short term memory
difficulties are part of the AD/HD condition. They may have difficulty
remembering more than two items in succession. Write it down, or have them
write while you speak.
Don't yell
Being easily distracted impacts
the ability to listen. If you feel yourself becoming angry or frustrated,
ask the person what part they need repeated.
Don't begrudge them
He/she will bring alot of life
and joy to you and others. Since they respond quickly, they wear their
feelings on their skin and are easily hurt. They're sensitive since they
have been misunderstood so long.
Don't try to hurry them
Offer them more time to finish.
Let them experiment with ways to make sense of something. If it's too abstract
in design, it may not make sense to them and will be harder to grasp.
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Copyright 1999
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